Iran-US war latest: Trump says conflict ‘moving rapidly’ as Tehran threatens to set region’s energy sites ‘on fire’ – UK Times

The World Health Organization said it has verified 18 attacks on healthcare centres in Iran since the start of the US and Israel war on Iran on February 28, which has resulted in 8 deaths among health workers.

“These attacks not only cost lives but deprive communities of care when they need it most. Health workers, patients and health facilities must always be protected under international humanitarian law,” the WHO said in a statement.

“My belief, that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through,” Scott Bessent told Sky News.

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Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif met Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Tuesday, where the two leaders discussed regional developments, the prime minister’s office said.

The meeting comes as the Middle East grapples with escalating conflict, including tensions involving Israel, the United States and Iran.

“The Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s full solidarity and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in these challenging times,” Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesman for Sharif, shared a press release from his office on X, adding that the two leaders held an in-depth exchange of views on recent regional developments and agreed to work together for peace and stability.

Sharif also assured the crown prince that Pakistan would always stand firmly with Saudi Arabia, the post read.

The US Central Command is was carrying out rescue efforts after it lost a military aircraft in “friendly airspace” in Iraq during the ongoing conflict with Iran, it has announced.

“Two aircraft were involved in the incident. One of the aircraft went down in western Iraq, and the second landed safely,” the military said.

It added that the incident was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire.

Six French soldiers engaged in counter-terrorism training with Iraqi partners were wounded after a drone attack in the Erbil region of Iraq, France’s army said on Thursday.

The six were immediately taken to the nearest medical centre, the army said in a statement, without elaborating.

The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil briefly topped $100 a barrel early Thursday, just days after it spiked near $120 in the latest jolts to financial markets and the global economy as a whole.

Oil prices initially shot more than 9% higher as supply concerns worsened with Iranian attacks on commercial shipping around the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. campaign of airstrikes in Iran is now in its 13th day.

U.S. benchmark crude oil jumped 6.5% to about $93 a barrel. Brent, the international standard, was trading 6.6% higher at about $98 per barrel.

Here’s the latest on oil prices:

Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard have warned that it will set oil and gas in the Middle East “on fire” if Iranian energy infrastructure is attacked.

“We warn the aggressor government and all its allies that the slightest attack on (Iran’s) energy infrastructure and ports will be followed by our crushing and devastating response,” the IRGC said in a statement cited by the official Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, according to CNN.

“In the event of such aggression, all the region’s oil and gas infrastructure in which the United States and its Western allies have a vested interest will be set on fire and destroyed,” it added.

Donald Trump has said the situation in Iran is “moving along very rapidly”.

“The situation with Iran is moving along very rapidly. It’s doing very well,” the US president said, speaking during a Women’s History Month event at the White House.

He added: “Our military is unsurpassed, there’s never been anything like it, nobody’s ever seen anything like it.

“They really are a nation of terror and hate, and they’re paying a big price right now.”

British troops in Iraq shot down two Iranian drones after their base came under attack, it emerged on Thursday, as defence secretary John Healey refused to rule out deploying warships to the Strait of Hormuz.

Bases in Erbil – where UK and allied troops are stationed – and Baghdad were struck “a number of times” on Wednesday night, according to Brigadier Guy Foden, in what was the third attack on British forces since the conflict began.

No British troops were harmed in the latest incident, but US personnel sustained some light casualties.

Our political editor David Maddox reports: